The USS Royal Savage was a two-masted schooner constructed by the British in the summer of 1775, approximately measuring 50 feet in length, 15 feet in width, and displacing around 70 tons. She was initially built to oppose American forces during the early stages of the American Revolutionary War. The vessel was armed with a formidable array of weaponry for her size, including eight 4-pounder guns, four 6-pounder guns, and ten swivel guns, and crewed by 40 to 50 men. Her construction and service history are closely tied to the conflict on Lake Champlain. Royal Savage was involved in the siege of Fort St. Jean, during which she was damaged and sunk by American troops. After the Americans captured the fort, she was raised and repaired, subsequently commissioned into the Continental Navy as the USS Royal Savage. She played a significant role in Benedict Arnold's campaign to control Lake Champlain, serving as the flagship of Arnold's fleet. Her participation was crucial in delaying British advances during the fall of 1776, contributing to the American effort that culminated in Burgoyne's defeat at Saratoga. The vessel's operational history includes her engagement in the Battle of Valcour Island in October 1776. During this engagement, Royal Savage ran aground while attempting to retreat, was captured by the British, and set on fire to prevent her recapture. The fire unintentionally provided a distraction that allowed the remaining American fleet to escape under cover of darkness. The wreck remained in Lake Champlain until it was raised in 1934 by Lorenzo Hagglund. Her remains were later acquired by the city of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1995, with plans for display that were ultimately unrealized. In 2013, the remains were auctioned but did not find a buyer; they were subsequently returned to Harrisburg in 2015, where they are now preserved and cared for as part of American maritime history. Royal Savage's story highlights her role in early American naval efforts and her enduring archaeological and historical significance as a symbol of the Revolutionary War's Lake Champlain campaign.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.